Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach was disinvited from the upcoming LMSD legislative forum amid allegations of sexual harassment. According to Amy Buckman, the Director of School & Community Relations for the district, School Board President Dr. Melissa Gilbert requested that Senator Leach not attend because she was concerned his presence could derail the conversation.
Ms. Buckman told Harriton TV the following:
“Senator Leach was asked by Board President Dr. Gilbert not to attend the Legislative Forum on education issues in order to ensure that the focus of the forum remains fully on education and was not derailed by the controversy engulfing Senator Leach. We look forward to a robust and informative dialogue about educational issues among our elected officials, students and community members this evening.”
Harriton TV reached out to Senator Leach’s office for comment. A spokesperson for Senator Leach’s issued the following statement:
“We were shocked and disappointed to learn that LMSB President Dr. Melissa Gilbert unilaterally decided to rescind Senator Leach’s invitation to participate in this taxpayer-funded legislative forum. As both the sitting State Senator for Lower Merion School District and member of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Leach provides unique insight and he was looking forward to speaking with people from Lower Merion about the issues important to them.
This appears to be an elected official using her official power as a government official to make a political point, all at the expense of the taxpayers and students of LMSD. Since you first reported this news earlier, we’ve heard from many constituents in Lower Merion who are angered by Dr. Gilbert’s decision and who have asked for her to re-invite the Senator.”
Dr. Gilbert maintained her position at the Legislative Forum. Multiple Lower Merion residents expressed complaints about her decision to her following the meeting. Numerous members of the school board, excluding the Vice President and one other member, later confirmed that Dr. Gilbert did not consult them before making the decision.
Harriton TV is a student-run news organization. Posts to Harriton TV’s Website do not necessarily go through an approval process by Harriton faculty.